Another Award for Wyatt Hendrickson, Again the Top Pinner in All of College Wrestling

(Portions of this story came from WIN Magazine and a story by Tristan Warner.)

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State’s, the U.S. Air Force’s, and Cowboys Wrestling Club’s Wyatt Hendrickson is a week away (June 14) from Final X and his chance to clinch the starting position at 125 kg for Team USA in the World Championships. We will all be tuned in. But the honors from a stellar senior season and one of the most exciting finishes in NCAA Wrestling Championships history continue. Hendrickson, for the third time, has been named as the recipient of the prestigious Schalles Award, This is the third-time Hendrickson has won this award.

The Schalles Award, presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate pinner, is named after Wade Schalles, who set the college pin record at Clarion (Pa.) State where he also won two NCAA championships (1972-73). During his career, Schalles defeated 153 of 159 opponents, pinning 109.

He was named a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1991.

Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

Hendrickson in the NCAA CHampionship.

The legendary Schalles commented, “What do you say about the first three-time Schalles award winner? Besides well-done, and congratulations champ! And what’s most noticeable is you’re a man who carries himself with quiet dignity — a gentleman of character, someone who’s been forged by discipline and defined by grace. You’re a leader by nature and an inspiration to everyone in the sport of wrestling.”

Hendrickson, who won the award in 2022 and 2023 while he was wrestling for the Air Force Academy. The Schalles Award is now added to the trophy case with the NCAA’s Most Dominant Wrestler award as well as the 2025 WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy.

Hendrickson’s fifth-year senior campaign included a 27-0 record with 13 pins, eight tech falls and a bonus-point percentage of 81.5. He was almost expected to get bonus points and often to pin his opponent followed by a trademark back flip that fans went nuts over.

Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

Hendrickson at the Big 12 Championships.

In the postseason alone, Hendrickson flattened three of his four opponents at the Big 12 Championships, with two of those falls occurring in the first period. At the NCAA Championships, the Cowboy pinned three of five opponents, which included a first-period disposal of eventual fourth-place All-American Isaac Trumble of NC State.

I’m not sure there has ever been a more deserving winner of The Schalles Award including Hendrickson in his previous two seasons where he won the same trophy.